UK Chandler Hospital Ranked Among Nation's Best for Ear, Nose and Throat Care

Beth Goins, 859-327-0078

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 11, 2006) − University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital, the flagship of UK HealthCare, has been ranked among the nation's top 50 hospitals by US News & World Report in the specialty of ear, nose and throat care.

The rankings "identify centers that take on and excel at tough procedures and conditions--centers where the sickest patients are sent for advanced care," according to the ranking explanation published in the magazine's July 17 "America's Best Hospitals" issue. Out of the 5,189 hospitals evaluated, only 176 scored well enough in quality measures to be ranked.

"To receive national recognition for the superb quality of care provided by our ear, nose and throat team is a testament to the high level of skill and dedication possessed by UK HealthCare professionals," said Dr. Michael Karpf, UK executive vice president for health affairs. "We are committed to providing the highest quality of advanced specialty care for our patients. The citizens of Kentucky deserve to have access to that kind of care right here in the region."

Rankings were based on three primary measures:

Reputation, which was determined by a sampling of board-certified physicians who were asked to list the five hospitals they would recommend for difficult cases.

Mortality of a comparison group of patients. Below 1.00 means better than expected; above 1.00, worse than expected. UK scored 0.34, better than 32 other hospitals on the list.

Quality of care: Quality measures include nurse-to-patient ratio (UK was ranked 32 of 50) and the number of key technologies available (UK scored 4 out of 5)

Patients see ear, nose and throat specialists, also known as otolaryngologists, for a wide range of health care involving the delicate head and neck areas.